My favourite colour is sunset ...

... I just love that pink and orange combination that spreads across the sky, and is always so fleeting.

This piece is pure experimentation!

I started with an 10 x 8 canvas board, and covered it in iridescent orange acrylic paint.

I've got these little boxes of wood shavings in various colours, courtesy of my sister. Regular readers of my blog will know that Laura is a woodturner, and some of the wood she uses comes in fantastic natural colours (see Laura's Etsy shop Treasures From the Tree here).

By the way, the link to my Etsy shop is on the sidebar!

One of the wood shavings is from a tree called Pink Ivory, and is also a stunning pinky-orange colour.

I took that and sprinkled it over lines of PVA glue, patted it down and then waited for it to dry.

Meanwhile, I added some blues to the sky.

When the wood shavings were dry, I took Pebeo Prisme paint in a couple of colours and poured it between the wood trails.  Note - when poured this paint spreads far and wide, so it soaked into a lot of the wood! Never mind ... my sandbanks are being inundated with the turning tide!

When everything was dry I took some metal leaf and created a setting sun. I also used metal foil for the wave tops.

So, a semi-abstract creation which has quite a few errors, but I had fun - which really is all that matters!

Clouds come floating into my life,

no longer to carry rain or usher storm,

but to add colour to my sunset sky.

Rabindranath Tagore

The current Paper Artsy challenge is all about metallics, follow the link to see some fabulous inspiration! I'm going to add my effort to all the other great entries!

All things being equal ...

Today is the Autumn equinox when the day and night are nearly equal in length, apparently there is about a 10 minute difference in the UK. The days on which the length of day and night are exactly equal is called the equilux, and occurs a few days after the autumn equinox. This date will vary depending on where on Earth you are, and indeed equiluxes do not occur at all close to the equator. Mr Google can give more info!

So, I've nearly run out of time on this month's Craft Barn challenge. The next couplet is -

Warm September brings the fruit,

Sportsmen then begin to shoot.

There is an abundance of blackberries around at the moment - blackberry and apple crumble - yum - proper comfort food!

Anyway, I have done a quick watercolour of some blackberries.

Happy equinox - and if you are reading this on Monday/Tuesday - Happy equilux!

Pals, Powertex and Pebeo

The Fearless Four recently got together, and we are still on that Powertex road! This time using a mirror as the base. As I had recently done a mirror with other friends (see here), I decided to turn mine into a picture.

Last year, I had a Pebeo play and used some Eco-board tiles, to create this ... using the Moon and I think a bit of the Prisme, not sure though, so long ago!

Since then they have sat in a box waiting for inspiration to strike. I found they fitted perfectly over the centre mirror ...









I first blocked the mirror aperture with cardboard, and covered the whole piece with a mixture of ivory and grey Powertex. I then used Stone Art all over, into which I embedded some loose woven hessian.

Once dry, I've used acrylic paint for the colour, and dry brushed gold paint, together with some copper gilding wax.

And what did the others get up to ...

Lin's mirror has some metal butterflies and flowers, with Bister. There's a bit of crackle going on there too.

Linda went for texture and flowers, with a bit of silver sparkle.

Monica used buttons - makes a change from shells!

I think we all have a button box, so a great way to use up those odd ones.












Another great day. We have already put the next one on the calendar, and we will not be using Powertex!

Bluebell the Third

Well, I've finally done it - opened an Etsy shop!

The house has become slightly crowded with all my artwork, so thought I would see if anyone else loves it enough to buy it!

Let me know what you think... I've put a link on my right side bar, or click through from here Art By Kaybee.

Just finished yet another bluebell painting! I've tried to analyse why I love bluebells so much, and I think it's because they are a sign of Spring, which always makes me happy.

This is semi abstract with a watercolour background and a touch of acrylic ink. The main bluebells are done in heavy body acrylic paint.

Starting to feel very autumnal, with chilly mornings, and lots of spiders' webs appearing!

I start another art course in a week's time - Intermediate Acrylics - should be fun.

Happy September!